Prayer - The Most We Can Do
Several years ago at a National Day of Prayer gathering at my church, a woman rose to discuss prayer. She mentioned how so many of us, when faced with a problem for which we have no easy answers, will say, "Well, the least we can do is pray." She went on, "That is so wrong!! Prayer is not the least we can do; prayer is the MOST we can do!!"
The lady was absolutely correct. Prayer may not be only thing we can do to address problems and suffering and lost souls, but it is the most important and first thing we should do. It has been said that when man acts, man acts; but when man prays, God acts. We know from Scripture that when we pray in accordance with God's will that He makes the same power available to us that raised Christ from the dead. If we want to see the resurrection power of God at work, then we must pray.
When I meet leaders of the Persecuted Church during my overseas trips and ask what their greatest need is, almost invariably they respond, "Pray for us." Our Executive Director has traveled across the oceans to meet with persecuted Christians for many decades and he finds the same thing. Virtually without exception they ask him to raise up prayer for the Persecuted Church.
George Mueller, the great English evangelist and founder of orphanages in the 19th century, decided one day to pray for 5 unsaved friends. After many months, one friend committed his life to Christ. After 10 years, two more of his friends decided to serve the Lord. It took 25 years for the fourth man to be saved. Mueller persevered in prayer until his death for the salvation of his fifth friend, and throughout those 52 years he never gave up hope that his friend would accept Christ. His faithfulness was rewarded when, not long after his funeral, the last of his friends called on Christ.
On behalf of our brothers and sisters who suffer grievously under the thumb of Islam, please be faithful in your prayer for them. By all means, give to support beneficial projects. Go and visit the persecuted if you can. But whatever else you may be able to do, please persevere in prayer for the Persecuted Church in Islamic strongholds. Persistent, prevailing prayer is the most important thing you can do.
The lady was absolutely correct. Prayer may not be only thing we can do to address problems and suffering and lost souls, but it is the most important and first thing we should do. It has been said that when man acts, man acts; but when man prays, God acts. We know from Scripture that when we pray in accordance with God's will that He makes the same power available to us that raised Christ from the dead. If we want to see the resurrection power of God at work, then we must pray.
When I meet leaders of the Persecuted Church during my overseas trips and ask what their greatest need is, almost invariably they respond, "Pray for us." Our Executive Director has traveled across the oceans to meet with persecuted Christians for many decades and he finds the same thing. Virtually without exception they ask him to raise up prayer for the Persecuted Church.
George Mueller, the great English evangelist and founder of orphanages in the 19th century, decided one day to pray for 5 unsaved friends. After many months, one friend committed his life to Christ. After 10 years, two more of his friends decided to serve the Lord. It took 25 years for the fourth man to be saved. Mueller persevered in prayer until his death for the salvation of his fifth friend, and throughout those 52 years he never gave up hope that his friend would accept Christ. His faithfulness was rewarded when, not long after his funeral, the last of his friends called on Christ.
On behalf of our brothers and sisters who suffer grievously under the thumb of Islam, please be faithful in your prayer for them. By all means, give to support beneficial projects. Go and visit the persecuted if you can. But whatever else you may be able to do, please persevere in prayer for the Persecuted Church in Islamic strongholds. Persistent, prevailing prayer is the most important thing you can do.